Reducing Pollution: Practical Steps For A Greener Tomorrow

Pollution is a pressing global issue, but there are many ways to reduce it. From using public transport to recycling and reusing items, small changes in our daily lives can make a big difference. This article will explore simple steps that individuals can take to reduce pollution, protect the environment, and promote a sustainable future. By making conscious choices and adopting eco-friendly practices, we can minimize our environmental footprint and contribute to a cleaner, healthier world.

Energy conservation at home and work

At Home

• Turn off appliances and electronics when not in use, and unplug them to avoid "phantom load", which occurs when devices draw power even when not in use.
• Use energy-efficient light bulbs, such as CFL or LED bulbs, which use 25-35% less energy than regular incandescent bulbs.
• Adjust your refrigerator temperature. Refrigerators account for a significant portion of household energy use, so setting your fridge to 37°F and your freezer to 3°F can help save energy.
• Only run the dishwasher and washing machine when they are fully loaded to make the most of each run cycle.
• Air-dry dishes and clothes instead of using the drying feature on your dishwasher or dryer.
• Use the right-sized burner when cooking on the stove, and use glass or ceramic pans when baking, as they retain heat better, allowing you to set the oven temperature lower.
• Seal any cracks or gaps around windows and doors with new weather stripping or caulk to prevent air leaks and maintain the desired temperature in your home.
• Adjust your thermostat settings. Keep your house a little warmer in the summer and a little cooler in the winter, and wear appropriate clothing to stay comfortable.
• Turn down the temperature on your water heater. Most water heaters are set to keep water heated to 140°F, but water at 120°F works just as well.

At Work

• Encourage carpooling or the use of public transportation to reduce emissions from individual vehicles.
• If possible, work remotely to eliminate the need for a commute altogether.
• Implement energy-saving measures in the office, such as turning off lights and electronics when not in use and using energy-efficient light bulbs.
• Use smart power strips to cut down on "phantom load" for electronics and appliances in the office.
• Encourage employees to bring their lunches in reusable containers to reduce waste and the energy required for takeout food production and packaging.
• If applicable, invest in energy-efficient large appliances, such as smart thermostats, for the office.

Use public transport, carpool, walk or cycle

Using public transport, carpooling, walking, or cycling are all great ways to reduce pollution and improve air quality. Here are some reasons why:

Reduce emissions and pollution

Every vehicle on the road releases an average of one pound of CO2 per mile driven. By taking public transportation, you can reduce CO2 emissions by 45% compared to driving alone. This not only decreases pollutants in the atmosphere but also improves air quality. Public transportation in the United States alone saves 37 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year.

Healthier communities

Improved air quality leads to better health for the community. This can mean fewer cases of respiratory issues like asthma and even cancer. People are also more inclined to go outside and be active when the air quality is better.

Reduce harmful chemicals

Cars use more than just gas; they also require antifreeze and other fluids that are harmful to the environment. By choosing sustainable transportation options, you can reduce the use of these harmful chemicals.

Fewer cars, fewer roads

More cars mean more roads, which leads to water runoff that contributes to ground and water pollution. Opting for active transportation like biking encourages the development of more bike paths and lanes, which are more sustainable.

Noise reduction

Cars contribute to noise pollution, especially in busy neighbourhoods. Reducing the number of cars on the road will make your community quieter and more peaceful for everyone.

Reduce waste and recycle

Reducing waste and recycling is a crucial aspect of pollution reduction and environmental protection. Here are some detailed and instructive guidelines to reduce waste and recycle:

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

The three Rs—reduce, reuse, and recycle—are fundamental principles for responsible waste management. Reducing waste means minimizing the amount of garbage generated, such as using less disposable items or buying products with less packaging. Reusing items, such as opting for reusable water bottles, cups, and grocery bags, helps decrease the need for new products. Recycling involves separating and properly disposing of materials like paper, plastic, glass, and metal for repurposing, conserving resources, and reducing landfill waste.

Purchase Wisely and Recycle

When purchasing products, opt for those with minimal packaging and recyclable materials. Check the recycling labels and guidelines in your area to ensure you're recycling correctly. For example, in Delaware, plastics labelled with a 1 or 2 are widely accepted for recycling, while plastics with a 3/PVC or 6/PS are generally not recyclable.

Composting

Consider composting food scraps, such as fruit and vegetable leftovers, eggshells, coffee grounds, grass clippings, and leaves. Composting may require more effort, but it provides benefits like improved soil quality, reduced need for chemical fertilizers, and increased water retention in gardens.

Avoid Single-Use Items

Single-use food and drink containers, utensils, straws, and napkins contribute significantly to waste. Opt for reusable alternatives whenever possible, such as bringing your own mug for coffee or using washable utensils and plates instead of disposable ones.

Shop Local and Buy in Bulk

Shopping at local farmers' markets supports local farmers and often results in less packaging waste. Additionally, buying in bulk from stores that offer food in reusable containers can help reduce packaging waste.

Curb Paper Usage

Minimize paper usage by opting for digital alternatives. Choose digital subscriptions for magazines, receive bills and receipts via email, and opt-out of marketing mailings to reduce the amount of paper waste generated.

Avoid single-use plastics

• Carry reusable shopping bags. Some people like reusable canvas totes, while others prefer to put their purchases into a backpack or messenger bag. If you often forget your reusable bags, ChicoBags are a great emergency alternative. They compress into their own attached stuff sack, making them very convenient and likely to be used. If you have a car, keep your grocery bags in it and remember to bring them into the store with you. Reusable bags are not just for groceries! Carry them for all your purchases, from electronics to clothing.
• Give up bottled water. Get a reusable stainless steel bottle or travel mug, fill it up with tap water before leaving the house, and refill it wherever you happen to be. Avoid reusable plastic or aluminium bottles. Plastic may leach chemicals into the water, and aluminium bottles are lined with an epoxy resin, some of which have also been found to leach into water.
• Carry your own containers for takeaway food and leftovers. Request that takeaway places use your container instead of their disposable one. If they won't do it, give them a Take Out Without card to help them understand why they should. Some examples of convenient containers are: stainless containers from Life Without Plastic, Eco Lunchbox, LunchBots, and others. Stainless steel containers sold at some camping supply stores.
• Carry a stainless steel travel mug or water bottle at all times for coffee and other drinks while out.
• Carry reusable utensils and glass drinking straws. Keep a To-Go-Ware bamboo utensil set and a couple of GlassDharma drinking straws in your purse at all times. You could also use your own stainless steel utensils.
• When ordering pizza, say no to the little plastic "table" in the middle of the pizza box. It's called a "package saver". Think about it. A single-use plastic device meant to save a single-use cardboard box. What about all the marine animals that swallow that type of disposable plastic? It doesn't save them, does it? When ordering, say, "Please don't put that little white plastic thing in the middle of the pizza." They'll know what you mean.
• Treat yourself to an ice cream cone. Instead of keeping containers of ice cream in the freezer, enjoy the occasional ice cream cone while you're out. That keeps your ice cream consumption down, which is better for your health, and it also does away with the plastic-lined containers as well. Ice cream cones require zero container or utensil waste. If you do want to bring some home, you can have your ice cream hand-packed in your own container.
• Cut out sodas, juices, and other plastic-bottled beverages. Eat fresh fruit instead of buying juice. This eliminates the need for all disposable bottles — glass as well as plastic. If you like fizzy drinks, get a Soda Stream Penguin soda maker. The soda maker itself is plastic, but the carafes are glass, and the soda maker replaces hundreds of disposable bottles. What's more, the reusable CO2 cartridges are returned to the manufacturer for refilling.
• Let go of frozen convenience foods. It's hard to find frozen meals that don't use plastic. Even frozen food trays that seem to be made of cardboard are lined with plastic. The more we limit our consumption of frozen convenience foods, the less plastic waste we'll generate and the healthier we'll be!
• Say no to plastic produce bags. They are generally unnecessary. Put most produce directly into your cart and then into your reusable bag. If you do feel you want a separate bag for produce, cloth options are available. Some alternatives are Ambatalia, ECOBAGS, ChicoBag produce bags, or handmade bags from Etsy sellers.
• Shop your local farmers market. Farmers markets are a great way to buy fresh, local produce without plastic, as long as you remember to bring your own bags. Normally, the fruits and vegetables at farmers markets don't even have those little plastic stickers on them. And for small fruits like berries and cherry tomatoes, use your own container or bag and hand the vendor's plastic container back to reuse.
• Return containers for berries, cherry tomatoes, and other small fruits and vegetables to the farmers market to be reused. One reader asked what to do about cherry tomatoes or berries since they can get crushed in a reusable bag. Buy them at the farmer's market in a green plastic basket and then return it to the farmer each week for a refill, so you never have to take new ones. Don't have a farmers market nearby? Ask your local grocer to take them back. Or empty your berries into your own container before leaving the store and leave the plastic basket behind. If enough of us do this, perhaps merchants will take note.
• Bring your own container for meat and prepared foods. Take your own containers with you to the butcher counter at Whole Foods or your local butcher shop. The butcher can weigh the container and deduct the weight. The servers at the deli/prepared foods counter can do the same thing. Just ask.
• Buy fresh bread that comes in either paper bags or no bags. At the farmers market or natural food stores, you can buy bread that comes in only paper. At the bakery, you can have your bread placed in your own cloth bag and avoid all packaging. Bread keeps fresh when stored in the cloth bag inside an airtight tin. Thrift stores often have popcorn tins that were sent as gifts. Fresh bread is a bit more expensive than its plastic-packaged cousins, but it's worth it. And since you buy so few new things, you can afford to spend more for quality, plastic-free food.
• Choose milk in returnable glass bottles. Many areas have local dairies that provide milk in returnable glass bottles rather than plastic or plastic-coated cardboard (yes, all cardboard milk containers are coated inside and out with plastic). Unfortunately, the milk bottle does contain an unrecyclable plastic cap. But it's better to buy milk in a glass bottle capped with plastic than milk contained in plastic on all sides.
• Buy large wheels of unwrapped cheese. They can be hard to find, but when you do come across plastic-free cheese, buy the whole thing. Going in on it with friends can make it more affordable.
• Choose wine bottled in glass with natural cork stoppers. This is kind of a trial and error project since you can't see the stopper until you open the bottle. There's a mobile website called Corkwatch you can use to see what kind of stopper—plastic or natural cork—is in a particular wine bottle before you purchase it. If you haven't already, please read this post about endangered cork forests and why it's important to support them by choosing natural cork over plastic stoppers or metal screw caps (which contain BPA in the lining).
• Learn to love the bulk bins. Look for stores in your area that sell foods from bulk bins and allow you to use your own bags or containers. In the SF Bay Area, for example, stores include Rainbow Grocery, Berkeley Bowl, and Whole Foods.) When I lived there, I could get almost all dry foods as well as some personal care products from the bulk bins. These foods included rice and other grains, pasta, beans (learning to cook dried beans is an important part of plastic-free living), seeds, nuts, all kinds of flour, baking soda and other dry baking ingredients, cereal and granola, pretzels and chips, some candy, tofu, oils, nut butters, olives, herbs, tea & coffee, and more things than I can think of right now. But you don't think you have to live in a crunchy place like San Francisco or Berkeley to shop bulk bins. They are everywhere. You just have to look. My new favourite grocery store is MOM's Organic Market in Maryland. The BULK Mobile app can help you find stores in your area. Goods Holding Company offers a kit to make zero waste bulk buying even easier! The key is bringing my own reusable bags and containers with me to the store. You can carry the same kind of cotton bags for bulk purchases as for produce (see above.) Glass jars and other containers work great as well. Why shop from bulk bins and take new plastic bags? Concerned about cross-contamination for people with allergies? Check out my post on avoiding gluten while still living plastic-free. Even if you live in an area that does not have bulk food stores, look for non-perishable goods in large-size packages, which will decrease the amount of plastic used overall.
• Choose plastic-free chewing gum. Did you know almost all chewing gum is made of plastic? That's right. When you're chewing gum, you're chewing on plastic. But plastic-free chewing gum options do exist.
• Clean with vinegar and water. Use a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water as an all-purpose spray cleaner (storing it in a reused spray bottle) and produce wash. Buy Spectrum vinegar, which comes in a glass bottle. Only the cap is plastic.
• Baking soda is a fantastic scouring powder. Seriously, there are soooo many uses for baking soda.
• Use powdered dishwasher detergent in a cardboard box. Right now, I've got Ecover brand under my kitchen sink.
• Hand wash dishes without plastic. Use baking soda or bar soap. Seriously, I've been using baking soda to hand wash dishes for several months now. It scours well and leaves dishes feeling squeaky clean. For really tough baked-on messes, I use a Chore Boy copper scrubber, which comes in a cardboard box with no plastic.
• Use natural cleaning cloths and scrubbers instead of plastic scrubbers and synthetic sponges. Compressed natural cellulose sponges are often sold without any plastic packaging because they don't need to be kept moist; they expand when wet. Natural fibre brushes are great for cleaning water bottles and scrubbing dirty dishes. Skoy cloths are made from cotton and cellulose, work like a cloth, absorb like a sponge, and can take the place of 15 rolls of paper towels. And of course, good old rags made from old clothing and towels are free and probably the greenest option of all.
• Wash clothes with homemade laundry soap and stain removers. Look for soap nuts in plastic-free packaging. Borax and Washing Soda come in cardboard boxes. Read about all of my plastic-free laundry methods, including how to make laundry liquid from soap nuts and how to get the stink out of nasty, oily cloths. Treat laundry stains with a borax/water paste or with a handmade laundry stain bar. Try the stain remover sticks from Juniperseed Mercantile or Buncha Farmers.
• If you already own a Swiffer mop, try switching to a reusable pad. If you don't know what a Swiffer is, don't worry about it. It's plastic and you don't need one. But if you already own a Swiffer mop, check out the reusable Swiffer cloths from Juniperseed Mercantile.
• Use natural rubber gloves. When I needed a pair of rubber gloves (for some disgusting task — I can't remember what) I opted for Casabella 100% latex gloves lined with 100% cotton flocking. Yeah, they're girlie pink. But at least I didn't buy plastic. An even better option is If You Care brand FSC-certified natural rubber gloves.
• Check labels of personal care products! Did you know some facial scrubs and other personal care products contain tiny plastic beads? Avoid anything with "polyethylene" listed as an ingredient. Read my post, Flushing Plastic Down The Drain! for more information.
• Switch to bar soap instead of liquid soap. People sometimes worry that sharing a bar of soap is less sanitary than sharing a bottle of liquid soap. But think about it: the bar soap gets rinsed off every time you use it. The plastic pump? Not so much. Where do you think the most germs are accumulating? My favourite bar soaps are from Aquarian Bath and Chagrin Valley. But for those folks who prefer body wash to soap, there is now solid, packaging-free shower gel. Try it and see what you think.
• Give up shampoo in plastic bottles. There are several plastic-free options: The "No-Poo method uses a baking soda & water wash and an apple cider vinegar rinse. That's the method I use, and the number of people who swear by it is growing. If No-Poo seems too hard-core, there are solid shampoo bars you can use. Brands include: Aquarian Bath shampoo bars J.R. Liggett's Old Fashioned shampoo bar Or try a searching for shampoo + bar on Etsy.com and request that the seller send your shampoo bar without any plastic packaging.
• Try hair salves and pomades in metal tins or glass jars. My favourite product used to be one called Product, which only contains a handful of ingredients and came in a glass jar, albeit with a plastic cap. And then I discovered Made-On Second Life Hair Butter, and my life changed completely. This stuff is awesome for taming frizzies if you have curly hair like I do.
• Colour hair with henna purchased without plastic packaging. Read about how I purchase henna in bulk or in solid form without plastic and how I mix and apply it to cover those grey hairs that make me look older than I feel.
• Baking soda is the best deodorant EVER. Instead of deodorant in a plastic container, I use baking soda mixed with a few drops of tea tree oil applied to dry underarms with a reusable cotton round. It works better than any commercial deodorant I have ever used. Seriously. If you don't think baking soda deo is your thing, there are other options. Read my Great Big Plastic-Free Non-Toxic Deodorant Review. But honestly? Try the baking soda first. No kidding. I would use it even if I weren't trying to cut down my plastic consumption.
• Try solid shave soap instead of canned shave cream. There are shave soaps especially made for that purpose (Simmons, Williams) but I've found that any rich soap bar will do.
• Choose lotions and lip balms in plastic-free containers. Organic Essence packages its body lotions in compostable cardboard jars and its lip balms in ingenious cardboard tubes that squeeze from the end. There are also lotion bars and lip balms and glosses that come in glass or metal containers. And I've also made my own homemade lotion, but now that Organic Essence is using responsible packaging, I'll leave the lotion-making to them.
• Switch from a plastic razor to a second-hand safety razor. I found mine in an antique store. More on the razor and the blades here.
• Reconsider how you clean your teeth. Read about toothpaste/powder/soap choices here or try new Bite Toothpaste Bits. Read the truth about "biodegradable" toothbrushes and compare less plastic toothbrush alternatives here and here. Find plastic-free, zero waste dental floss.
• Coconut oil is great for grown-ups. Seriously, it makes a great lube, and its natural anti-fungal properties are particularly good for women. But be aware the oil-based lubes don't play well with latex.
• Choose toilet paper that's not wrapped in plastic. Who Gives a Crap brand toilet paper comes in a cardboard box with paper-wrapped rolls. No plastic. They offer a choice of recycled paper or bamboo. And the company gives 50% of its profits to build toilets and sanitation in developing countries. Seventh Generation recycled individually wrapped toilet paper can be ordered by the case through Amazon.com. It comes in a cardboard box without any plastic wrapping.
• Use plastic-free feminine hygiene products. Some of the options include washable cloth liners and pads. One great brand is Luna Pads, which are made of organic cotton. Or search for cloth + menstrual + pads on Etsy.com. Remember to ask the seller to ship with no plastic packaging. Some women prefer the Diva Cup, which can be washed and reinserted.
• Look into plastic-free sunscreen options. I've found two great plastic-free sunscreens: Balm! Baby and Avasol. Read about them here. Several readers have offered other options. Check out my May 7, 2010 post and especially the comments for plastic-free sunscreen alternatives.
• Explore plastic-free hair accessories and tools. Read about my plastic-free wooden hairbrush with wooden bristles here. Check out these new plastic-free, organic hair elastics.
• Keep your own reusable foodware at the office. I brought a plate, bowl, glass, and utensils to keep at my desk. This way, I can avoid all the disposable cups, plates, and cutlery in the lunchroom.
• Carry lunches in reusable stainless containers or cloth bags. A few examples of good lunch container options are: PlanetBox lunch boxes Life Without Plastic lunch sacks and stainless containers Life Without Plastic insulated lunch bag Eco Lunchbox containers. LunchBots stainless snack and sandwich containers To-Go Ware tiffins and individual sidekick containers
• Choose reusable cloth sandwich/snack bags over plastic baggies. Read about the many reusable cloth lunch baggie options here.
• Choose glass or stainless steel food storage containers and reuse what you already have. We save nearly all glass jars and bottles for purchasing bulk foods and for storing leftovers in the refrigerator or even the freezer. When we run out of jars, we store leftovers in bowls with saucers on top instead of plastic wrap. Bowls with saucers are great for stacking. We also use Anchor glass refrigerator containers to store daily portions of our homemade cat food. More on that below. The key to freezing foods in glass is not to fill the jar too full since the food will expand inside the container. The other caveat is not to heat the glass too quickly. Let foods thaw at room temperature to avoid glass breakage. Another option for the refrigerator or freezer are the flat-topped airtight stainless steel containers from Life Without Plastic. Their flat top makes them easy to stack and the fact that they are airtight means food can be stored longer. Read about my favourite container here.
• Try natural beeswax coated cloth wraps instead of plastic cling film. Check out my review of various beeswax-coated cloth wraps to substitute for plastic wrap. You can buy them new or make them yourself!
• Choose a glass blender. Avoid the high-speed blenders that come with a plastic pitcher. Those containers contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals. My Waring Pro is all glass and metal and works just fine. While you're at it, please sign my petition to ask Vita-Mix to bring back the stainless steel blender pitcher it had when the machine was first invented.
• Spin salad without plastic. In one of my favourite posts, I compare an old-fashioned wire salad spinner to a plain old cotton produce bag. It was a fun experiment.
• Learn to preserve foods without plastic. Read how I freeze produce without plastic freezer bags. You can also learn to can foods in glass jars or dehydrate produce to keep through the winter

Use energy-efficient appliances

Using energy-efficient appliances is a great way to reduce pollution. Energy efficiency is about using technology to reduce energy waste, so you can still perform the same tasks but using less energy. This is different from energy conservation, which relies on people cutting back on activities that consume energy.

There are many benefits to using less energy. It's good for your wallet, as you will save money on your energy bills. It's also good for the broader economy, as it relieves stress on the power grid and infrastructure.

Using less energy also reduces carbon pollution and helps combat climate change. It can also help people live healthier and longer lives. When power plants burn coal, oil, and natural gas, they release tiny particles into the air that are linked to asthma, heart attacks, and lung cancer.

• Look for the Energy Star label when buying new appliances. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program has been the gold standard for identifying energy-efficient appliances, buildings, and equipment.
• Replace older appliances with energy-efficient models. For example, a newer fridge with the Energy Star label uses 35% less electricity than an older model. Energy Star washing machines use a quarter less energy and a third less water than standard models.
• Invest in energy-efficient heating and cooling systems. Super-efficient electric heat pumps can be used for both heating and cooling spaces and are a cleaner and more affordable option than traditional furnaces.
• Improve the insulation in your home. Adding more insulation to an attic keeps warm air inside during winter and keeps hot air out during summer. With good insulation, you won't need to use as much energy to heat or cool your home.
• Use smart thermostats to control the heating and cooling in your home. These devices learn your temperature preferences and schedule to automatically adjust to energy-saving temperatures when you are asleep or away.
• Choose energy-efficient light bulbs. LED light bulbs use significantly less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last much longer.
• Use energy-efficient computers and electronics. Computers can be set to automatically enter a low-power "sleep" mode when not in use, saving energy.

By using energy-efficient appliances, you can reduce pollution, save money, and improve your health and the environment.

Frequently asked questions